Nitty-gritty Definition
nĭtē-grĭtē
noun
The actual, basic facts, elements, issues, etc.
Webster's New World
The specific or practical details; the heart of a matter.
American Heritage
Origin of Nitty-gritty
-
Uncertain, said to have been used at first by black jazz musicians, perhaps ultimately from reduplication nit and grits (finely ground corn), from Old English grytt, grytta (“coarse meal").
From Wiktionary
Origin unknown
From American Heritage Dictionary of the English Language, 5th Edition
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